Extension table with folding legs



April 26, 1955 w, VANGQR EXTENSION TABLE WITH FOLDING LEGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1953 INVENTOR m'ZZ m/n Va g ATTORNEYS April 26, 1955 w. VANGOR EXTENSION TABLE WITH FOLDING LEGS 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1953 R m m V W.

April 26, 1955 w. VANGOR 2,707,138

EXTENSION TABLE WITH FOLDING LEGS Filed Aug. 26, 1953 3 Sheets-Shee1; 5

13 i5 47 up 25 L 335V 44 5 1 25. f k I e I "Hm mu m o a I 23 2 52 2% F nu mm W i ll ml pmnmm .LO 9 4O 43 ullllllllll 16 m ii INVENTOR Wt ZZZ am Va/ggw" ATTORNEYS United States Patent EXTENSION TABLE WITH FOLDING LEGS William Vangor, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Lorraine Novelty Manufacturing Co., Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 26, 1953, Serial No. 376,588

8 Claims. (Cl. 311-42) This invention relates to tables, and more particularly to improvements in card tables and the like.

Card tables usually have square tops with corner legs which may be folded against the top so that the table may be conveniently carried from place to place and stored when out of use. by four persons such as when playing bridge, but when a larger number of persons is engaged at the table, crowded and uncomfortable conditions usually result.

An object of the present invention is to provide a card table which can be easily extended when it is desired to have more table surface and seating room, and yet maintain the table within substantially the same dimensions as the conventional card table when the extra space is not needed or desired so that it can be carried and stored in the usual way.

To this end, the card table of the present invention has a top divided in half so as to form two sections and a solid top adapted to be supported on the two-section top and of substantially the same dimensions as the latter and serving as the playing or supporting surface when the table is used as a conventional square card table. The two-section top is provided with slide rails to guide them for movements toward and from each other to closed and opened positions, and these slide rails are of such dimensions as to permit the top sections to be moved apart sufficiently to receive between them the solid auxiliary top which thus acts as a table leaf. When the auxiliary top is thus placed between the spread-apart top sections, the playing or working area of the table is substantially doubled, permitting the comfortable use of the table by eight persons. When in position between the open top sections, the auxiliary top is supported by lug-like brackets on the top sections and the top surfaces of the slide rails so that the surfaces of the top sections and the auxiliary top are in one plane.

According to the present invention in its preferred form, each of the top sections has mounted thereon a pair of outside corner legs, and they are hingedly mounted to be swingable from extended operative position to folded inoperative position against the underside of the top sections so that the table may be conveniently carried from place to place and stored in a small space. Each leg is provided with means for locking it in extended position and the legs of each section are interconnected so that when one leg is unlocked and moved, the other leg will be unlocked and moved to closed position.

According to the present invention, the legs of the two sections are also interconnected so that when the table is in closed position the unlocking and moving of one leg will unlock and move all of the legs of the table. The interconnecting means between the sections has separable connections including coupling members movable to break the interconnection and permit the two sections to be moved apart without interference when desired. These coupling members are preferably provided with actuating means leading to an outer edge of the table for convenient operation.

In the broader aspects of this invention, top may be arranged to merely rest on the when the table is closed, but, preferably, interlocking means are provided between the auxiliary top and the top sections so that when the top sections are closed the auxiliary top will be held securely to the top sections and will remain with the latter when the table is upended for the purpose of folding the legs, carrying the table and the auxiliary top sections Such tables are suitable for use storing the same. Thus the inconvenience of having a separate part or leaf to be separately handled and stored is avoided.

When the auxiliary top is in position between the top sections, means are preferably provided] for holding it against shifting out of longitudinal alignment with the top sections.

The table of the present invention has great practical utility, for it may conveniently serve as a card table during the playing of a game and later may be extended and be used as a luncheon or buffet table.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings which show the preferred form of this invention- Figure l is a perspective view of the table of the present invention in its closed or four-place condition.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the table ex tended-the auxiliary top being in position between the top sections.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the table as arranged in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the portion of the table between the lines 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the slide rails taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the underside of the auxiliary top.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the adjacent ends of the top sections when closed with the auxiliary top supported thereon, and also showing the means for attaching the auxiliary top to the top sections.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one of the corners of the top section showing the leg hinge and the leg locking and operating means.

Fig. 9 is a bottom Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the table in the closed position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the auxiliary top in position between the top sections.

Fig. 12 is a detail view showing the releasable coupling of the interconnecting means for the leg operating mechanism.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the table of the present invention comprises a top section 10 and a top section 11 connected by slide rails 12 and 13 and an intermediate rail 14 structurally connecting the sections 10 and 11 together so that they can be moved apart as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or brought together as shown in Figs. 1 and 10. Each of the top sections comprises a rectangular frame outlining a center section 15 which may be covered with suitable material.

When the sections 10 and 11 are together, they form a square supporting surface and may have the dimensions substantially those of conventional card tables or any suitable or desirable dimensions.

When in closed condition, the sections 10 and 11, according to the present invention, support upon their upper surfaces an auxiliary table top 16. As shown in Fig. 1, the auxiliary top has the same dimensions as the sections 10 and 11 taken together and appears with the latter as one ordinary table top. Normally, when the table is closed, the auxiliary top 16 serves as the playing or supporting surface of the table. When the sections 10 and 11 are pulled apart the necessary distance, which may be controlled by pins 17 and slots 18 between the rails 12, 13 and 14, the auxiliary top 16 may be dropped between the top sections.

When the auxiliary top 16 is dropped between the sections 10 and 11, it engages and is supported by the plan view of the parts shown in rails 13 on the opposite sections at diagonally opposite sides. To further support the auxiliary t P, the sections 10 and 11 when open have arranged diagonally opposite each other brackets or lugs 19 positioned to engage the underside of the auxiliary top. Thus the auxiliary top is supported jointly by the lugs 19 and the rails 13.

As shown, the auxiliary top is held with its edge in longitudinal alignment with the edges of the sections 10 and 11. For this purpose, each lug 19 has a pin or projection 20 which fits in a slot 21 in the underside of the auxiliary top. As shown in Fig. 10, one of the lugs 19 is fastened to the section while the other lug is fastened to the section 11.

To hold it to the sections 10 and 11 when the table is closed as in Fig. l, the auxiliary top 16 is provided with a pair of hooks 22 which extend down through the space between the sections 10 and 11 and, as shown in Fig. 7, extend under the top to the section 11. Thus, when the sections 10 and 11 are closed as in Fig. 7, the hooks 22 .hold the auxiliary top 16 against falling off the sections 10 and 11 when the table is tipped up as when carrying or storing the same.

In the form of the invention at present preferred, at their outside corners the sections 10 and 11 are provided with legs 23. As shown in Fig. 8, each leg 23 is hinged to a bracket 24 secured to the top section so that the leg can be swung up parallel with the top section and out of the way. Each leg is locked in extended position by toggle links 25 and 26, and a snap spring 27 holds the toggles 2526 in either open or closed position. Each toggle link 26 has drag link 29 connected to a bell crank 30 ad acent one leg and to another bell crank 30 near the adjacent leg. Each bell crank is provided with a cam lever 31 which, when manually operated, engages an abutment 31a and rocks the bell crank 30 to move the drag link which in turn operates the toggle link 26. The movement of one bell crank 30 moves the other bell crank to which it is connected, and this in turn moves another drag lmk also connected to it so that when one cam lever 31 is operated all of the bell cranks 30 and drag links 29 are simultaneously operated to unlock the legs and move them to folded position.

To permit the sections 10 and 11 to be moved apart, the drag links 29 extending across the joint between the sections 10 and 11 are made in two parts 29a and 29b joined by a coupling comprising a hook 32 pivotally car ried by the part 29b and a pin 33 carried by the part 29a. At one end, each of the drag link parts 29a and 29b is guided in its movement by its connection to the adjacent bell crank 30 and the movement of its other end is guided by a pin 34 riding in a slot 35 in the link part. Hence, when the sections 10 and 11 are brought together, the hook 32 may engage over the pin 33 and thus couple the parts 29a and 2912 together for movement as one, so that when any drag link moves longitudinally, all of the drag links move at the same time. The hook and pin connections 3233 further serve to hold the sections 10 and 11 together.

According to the present invention, the hooks 32 may be controlled in any suitable manner. vantageous to have the hooks 32 spring-urged to locking position and to provide means whereby the hooks may be manually released from a convenient place on the table so as to facilitate the separation of the sections 10 and 11 when it is desired to extend the table. pose, each of the hooks 32 has an ear 36 extending through a hole 37 in a link 38 extending toward the center of the table. At the center of the table the links 38 are connected with toggle links 39, the joint 40 of which is connected to a bar 41 extending through a slot 42 in the outside edge of the section 11 where it is provided with a ring 43 serving as a handle. When the ring 43 is pulled, the toggle 39 is closed pulling the links 38 toward the center of the table and releasing the hooks 32 from the pins 33. In the form of the invention shown, each hook 32 is returned to operative position upon release of the ring 43 by a spring 44 carried by the drag link portion 29b and engaging the ear 36 on the hook. The outer end of the hook 32 is provided with a cam surface 45 so that when the sections 10 and 11 are brought together the pin 33 will engage the cam 45 and cause the hook to be raised until the pin 33 drops in the slot 46, at which time the spring 44 will move the hook over the pin and interconnect the link portions 29a and 2%.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A table of the card-table type comprising a top formed of two separable rectangular sections; slide rails connecting the sections for guided movement between juxtaposed closed and spaced open positions; an auxiliary top insertable in the space between the two sections when the latter are in open position; supporting legs on each section and movable therewith in the opening and closa pinand-slot connection 28 with a However, it is ad- For this puring movements of the top sections; means hingedly mounting each leg on its section for movement between extended operative and folded inoperative positions; and means connecting all the legs when the sections are in closed position for concurrent movements to and from folded and extended positions, the said means having cooperating separable coupling elements whereby the connections may be uncoupled to permit the top sections to be moved apart to open position and recoupled when the sections are again moved together in closed position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which springs urge the coupling elements to coupling position and manually operated means moves the coupling elements to uncoupling position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which springs urge the coupling elements to coupling position and manually operated means including a finger piece located at the edge of the table moves the coupling elements to uncoupling position.

4. A table of the card-table type comprising a top formed of two separable rectangular sections; slide rails connecting the sections for guided movement between juxtaposed closed and spaced open positions; an auxiliary top insertable in the space between the two sections when the latter are in open position; supporting legs on each section and movable therewith in the opening and closing movements of the top sections; means hingedly mounting each leg on its section for movement between extended operative and folded inoperative positions; and drag links connecting all the legs when the sections are in closed position for concurrent movements to and from folded and extended positions, the drag links which extend between the two sections being formed of two parts having cooperating separable coupling elements whereby the parts may be uncoupled to permit the sections to be moved apart to open position and recoupled when the sections are again moved together in closed position.

5. A table of the card-table type comprising a top formed of two separable rectangular sections; slide rails connecting the sections for guided movement between juxtaposed closed and spaced open positions; an auxiliary top insertable in the space between the two sections when the latter are in open position; supporting legs on each section and movable therewith in the opening and closing movements of the top sections; means hingedly mounting each leg on its section for movement between extended operative and folded inoperative positions; and drag links connecting all the legs when the sections are in closed position for concurrent movements to and from folded and extended positions, the drag links which extend between the two sections being formed of two parts having cooperating separable coupling hook and pin elements on the respective parts whereby the parts may be uncoupled to permit the sections to be moved apart to open position and recoupled when the sections are again moved together in closed position.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which means are provided for disengaging the hook and pin elements when it is desired to uncouple the parts preparatory to moving the top sections apart.

7. A table of the card-table type comprising a top formed of two separable rectangular sections; slide rails connecting the sections for guided movement between juxtaposed closed and spaced open positions; an auxiliary top insertable in the space between the two sections when the latter are in open position; supporting legs on each section and movable therewith in the opening and closing movements of the top sections; means hingedly mounting each leg on its section for movement between extended operative and folded inoperative positions; means for locking the legs in extended positions; and means connecting all the legs when the sections are in closed position to unlock and move all the other legs when one is unlocked and moved to folded position, said means having cooperating separable coupling elements whereby the connections may be uncoupled to permit the sections to be moved apart to open position and recoupled when the sections are again moved together in closed position.

8. A table of the card-table type comprising a top formed of two separable rectangular sections; slide rails connecting the sections for guided movement between uxtaposed closed and spaced open positions; an auxiliary top insertable in the space between the two sections when the latter are in open position; supporting legs on each section and movable therewith in the opening and closing movements of the top sections; means hingedly mounting each leg on its section for movement between extended operative and folded inoperative positions; means for locking the legs in extended positions; and drag links connecting all the legs when the sections are in closed position to unlock and move all the legs when one is unlocked and moved, the drag links which extend between the two sections being formed of two parts having 00- operating separable coupling elements on the respective parts whereby the parts may be uncoupled to permit the sections to be moved apart to open position and recoupled when the sections are again moved together in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,391 Johnson Nov. 21, 1899 6 Dickson Feb. 23, Hummel Apr. 20, Buddle Oct. 12, Cooper Oct. 30, Kramm Feb. 9, Walter Apr. 5, Symmonds July 4, Kovats June 18, Woina et al Dec. 1,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Dec. 31, 

